News and Events
November 13, 2008
The 2008 Industry Honors and Professional Recognition Program
FLATE, the National Science Foundation-funded, Florida Advanced Technological Education Center, presented three awards at the Manufacturers Association of Florida’s 5th Annual Summit as part of the 2008 Industry Honors and Professional Recognition program.
The awards reflect FLATE’s commitment to recognize educators and industry colleagues who have made significant strides in promoting excellence in educating and training today’s technology workforce. The awards were presented on Nov. 5, during the President’s banquet at the MAF Summit in Jacksonville, Fla., and recognize three key areas of importance – secondary education, post-secondary education, and industry distinguished service.
The Industry Distinguished Service award was bestowed on Anthony Fedd. In addition to his career as the site director of two BASF facilities in north Florida, Fedd is a relentless supporter of career and technology education throughout Florida. As one of the leading voices in Florida’s manufacturing sector, Fedd has represented manufacturers before House and Senate committees, chaired the Manufacturers Association of Florida’s Workforce and Education committee, served on the Workforce Plus Board of Directors.
Fedd also oversaw the transition as the EDC’s Manufacturing Roundtable launched a Web site under its new branding, Capital Region Manufacturers (CRM), in September 2007. The group also subsequently joined Manufacturers Association of Florida (MAF) as a regional manufacturing association, and added a seat on MAF’s Board of Directors.
“It was a huge benefit for me coming into my role managing EDC roundtables, to have Anthony as the volunteer manufacturing chair. His vast experience and commitment to the industry allowed me to acclimate quickly to the industry’s needs and our region’s manufacturing assets” said Travis Yelverton, EDC’s Director of Existing Industry. Fedd has just completed his tenure as CRM Chair but continues to contribute his expertise when available.
FLATE is a National Science Foundation center, committed to ensuring that Florida has a well prepared workforce for manufacturing and related technologies. Created in 2004, it is one of 36 centers in the United States focused on improving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to meet the needs of American advanced-technology industries. For more information visit www.fl-ate.org/awards, or email roe@fl-ate.org
November 13, 2008
Center for Entrepreneurial Development’s Venture 2009 Conference
The Council for Entrepreneurial Development (CED), the oldest and largest entrepreneurial support organization in the nation, NCBIO, North Carolina's state-level affiliate of the national Biotechnology Industry Organization, and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, whose mission is to provide long-term economic and societal benefits to North Carolina, have partnered to present CED's 18th annual Biotech Conference.
CED’s Biotech 2009 conference unites the Southeast's life science community to celebrate one of the biotech industry's most dynamic regions. This two-day conference will focus on potential impact of the new political landscape and what biotech companies should do to prepare for the change. CED’s Biotech 2009 includes world-class speakers, a variety of panels on industry topics and trends, and networking opportunities with life science leaders. The conference will be held at the new Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, N.C. February 16-17, 2009.
The CED is actively recruiting life science and technology-based companies from North Carolina and across the Southeast to apply to present. Early and late stage companies looking to raise initial or subsequent rounds of equity capital are encouraged to apply today for a chance to present. The early application deadline is December 19. Click HERE to apply.
"Anyone involved with life sciences in North Carolina is well aware of the important role NCBIO and the North Carolina Biotechnology Center play in stimulating and supporting biotech growth,” said Joan Siefert Rose, CED president. “We look forward to partnering with these organizations to bring life science leaders from across the Southeast together to learn how policy changes will affect the biotech industry in 2009.”
“Once again, the Biotechnology Center is delighted to partner with the CED and NCBIO to present North Carolina’s most significant biotechnology meeting – Biotech 2009” said Ken Tindall, Ph.D. senior vice president, science and business development. “Today’s changing economic and business climate reinforces the value of gathering to focus on the opportunities and challenges facing an expanding global biotechnology industry.”
Designed for industry executives, including biotech entrepreneurs, pharmaceutical companies, research leaders, policy makers and nationally prominent investors, CED’s Biotech 2009 conference will address life science and healthcare policy. Confirmed speakers for this event to date include the honorable James C. Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization; John J. Campbell, founder, chairman and CEO of Campbell Alliance; Dennis Gillings, chairman and CEO of Quintiles Transnational Corp.; James C. Mullen, president and CEO of Biogen; Colin Goodard, CEO of OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; and H. Stewart Parker, president and CEO of Targeted Genetics Corporation.
“NCBIO has partnered with CED and the NC Biotechnology Center for a number of years to present the annual Biotech Conference. This event is instrumental in informing the state’s life science leaders about trends in the industry and issues facing companies in North Carolina, nationally and internationally,” said NCBIO president Sam Taylor. “The 2009 event will give us an opportunity to see how changes in leadership at the state and national level may impact our industry.”
About NCBIO
NCBIO is the trade association for North Carolina’s bioscience industry. The Organization has more than 170 members doing business in human and animal therapeutics, diagnostics, medical devices, and agricultural and industrial biotechnology. For more information about NCBIO visit www.ncbioscience.org
November 13, 2008
Florida’s Great Northwest Issues Workforce Innovation II RFP
Florida’s Great Northwest, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of its Workforce Innovation II Request for Proposal (RFP). Through this RFP, Florida’s Great Northwest aims to address specific industry needs by funding innovative workforce development, training, and other industry-specific education and training partnership projects. For a project to qualify it is necessary that it encourage or lead to high-skill, high-wage employment or employee advancement in four target high-growth, high-tech industry clusters: aviation, aerospace, defense, and national security; health sciences and human performance enhancement; energy and the environment; transportation and logistics; or in the two support industries of: information technology and research/engineering services.
The Workforce Innovation II program seeks to fund innovative projects, including new program development, fellowships, internships and other creative training methods to train individuals for employment or advancement in high-skill, high-wage occupations in Northwest Florida’s target industries. “This is one of the most broadly defined grant opportunities that Florida's Great Northwest has ever offered, said Al Wenstrand, President of Florida's Great Northwest. “This program is focused on addressing the region’s crucial knowledge-based job training and development needs in new and exciting ways.”
The RFP specifications and requirements are available on the Florida’s Great Northwest’s website, www.FloridasGreatNorthwest.com. Applications will be accepted from training facilities, higher education institutions, research & development organizations, and specialized targeted businesses within Northwest Florida. Proposals must be received by Florida’s Great Northwest by Wednesday, December 17, 2008.
“This Workforce Innovation II RFP is a unique opportunity for Northwest Florida’s higher education, training, research & development, and specialized target businesses to be encouraged to develop original and creative solutions to meet the increasing employment training needs that most impact the region’s critical knowledge-based workforce,” said Florida's Great Northwest Chairman Fred Leopold.
Florida’s Great Northwest was awarded a U.S. Department of Labor – Employment Training Administration Workforce Innovation for Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant on February 1, 2006, creating the WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative. $1.75 million of the grant dollars has been allocated from the WIRED grant to support awards made in response to this RFP. The purpose of FGNW’s WIRED Northwest Florida Initiative is to enhance and/or develop training initiatives designed to create a skilled workforce in the target industries.
Florida’s Great Northwest provides regional leadership in economic and workforce development, serving 16 counties in Northwest Florida from Pensacola through Tallahassee. Membership in Florida’s Great Northwest includes county and local economic development groups, workforce development boards, community and junior colleges, universities, and private businesses – with private businesses composing the majority of the organization’s membership. Its primary mission is the creation of high-wage, high-skill jobs, branding and marketing, as well as supporting the local economic and workforce development organizations in the region.
